Ironer shoe operating mechanism



2 Sheets-Sheet l All) Filed Jan. 24, 1936 III \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\t\\\\ May 31, 193s.

INVENTOR Rez/be d 4' l/ey ATTOIQNEY May 31, 1938. R, J, MCVEY 2,119,283

IRONER SHOE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 193e 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 31, 1938 PATENT OFFICE i 2,119,283 vIRONER SHOE OPERATING MECHANISM Reuben J. McVey, Sandusky, Ohio, assigner, by mesne assignments, to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing corporation of Ohio Company, Cleveland, Ohio. a

Application January 24, 1936, Serial No. 60,599

`5 Claims.

,coordinating operation of the `ironing shoe with the clutch so that when the shoe .is `engaged with the ironing roll the clutch is operably con; nected with the power unit and when the shoe is moved out of pressing engagement with the roll the clutch is disengaged, thereby enabling reduction ofthe ironer controls to a single lever mechanism.

Other important objects to provide a coordinating connectibn capable of free and easy operation with a minimum of sliding parts; to provide a coordinating means which is positively connected with'the clutch mechanism and ironing shoe; and to provide an ironer construction which is readily manufactured with a minimum of machining operations.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, as hereinafter pointed out, I have provided improved details of construction, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine equipped with an ironer attachment embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section through the powerend of the ironer, particularly illustrating the coordinating connections between the clutch and ironer shoe.

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken at substantially right angles to the section illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the ironing' shoe disengaged from pressing contact with the ironing roll and the clutch yoke arm in position for retaining the clutch in` disengagement with the actuating mechanism.

' Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the parts in the position they assume when the shoe is engaged with the. ironing roll.

Fig. 6 isa fragmentary plan view of the ironing attachment particularly illustrating its hinge connection with the washing machine.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vi-ew partly in section to illustrate mounting of the'ironer'attachment on the housing of the wringer operating shaft.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates an ironerl embodyingthe features of the present invention, and which for the sake of illustration is shown as an attachment for a conventional Washing machine 2 including a tub 3 that is mounted on a base 4 having legs of the invention are 5 provided with casters 6 whereby the machine 'may be conveniently moved. Carried on the base 4, and operable by a suitable motor mounted under the base, is a transmission gearing enclosed in a housing 1 and extending upwardly therefrom is a tubular post 8 enclosing a powershaft 9 for operating a Wringer I as in conventional practice. The post 8vpreferably includes upper and lower sections II and I2 between which is interposed a housing I3, including a vertically posi-` tioned cylindrical portion Il forming a continuation of the post sections, and a horizontally arranged cylindrical portion I offset laterally from the side of the portion I4.

Located within the portion Il, and fixed on the power shaft 9, is a worm I6 having meshing engagement with a worm` gear I1 which is rotatably mounted in the portion I5 of the housing, the worm gear being mounted on a stub shaft I8 carried in a boss I9 of the housing. Fixed to and forming a part of the wormgear I1 is a hub having a clutch face 2| including spaced lugs 22 to be engaged by a similar clutch member 23 forming a part of the ironing mechanism, later described.

The side of the gear vhousing opposite the hub 20 is open, and inset ltherefrom is a washer 2l t having its outer periphery seated against a shoulder 25 of the housing and having its inner periphery of suilcient diameter to freely engage over the clutch face so that the lugs thereof project suiciently to permit of their engagement with the clutch 23. The worm and worm gear are therefore enclosed so that they may be packed in a suitable lubricant. A similar washer 81, spaced from the washer 2l, engages the housing and the periphery of the clutch member 23 but without interfering with rotary and longitudinal movement of member 23.

Extending radially from the portion I4 of the gear housing is an arm 26 to which the ironer is pivotally mounted as now described. The ironer proper includes a bracket 21 having a substantially cylindrical clutch housing portion 28 conforming in diameter to that of the cylindrical portion I5 of the gear housing and which has a shouldered annular rim 29 for interengagement with an internal shoulder 30 1n the gear housing whereby the clutch portion of the bracket is retained in concentric relation with the cylin-y drical portion I5. I'he bracket, also includes a hub y3l extending in the opposite direction from the clutch housing to mount one end of a tubular sleeve 32 that constitutes a bearing support for an ironing roll 33.

The ironing roll includes a cylinder 34 having closed ends 35 terminating in hubs 3B which have .bearing openings accommodating the sleeve 32. The outer surface of the roller is covered by a suitable padding material 31 as in conventional ironer roll construction.

Extending concentrically within the sleeve 32, and having driving connection with the outer end thereof, is a drive shaft 38, the inner end vof which is rotatably mounted within and extends through a `clutch actuating collar 39 having a hub portion 48 operably mounted within the open end of the sleeve 32, and a bell crank portion 4| located within the clutch housing. The shaft 38 extends into alignment with the clutch face 2|y and mounts the clutch member 23 above referred to.

'I'he clutch member 23 comprises a sleeve portion having a head 42 provided with lugs 43 adapted to interengage the lugs 22 of the other clutch member. The opposite end of the sleeve has slots 44 opening from the end thereof to pass the ends of a clutch pin 45 extending transversely through the shaft 38, and wherewith the clutch member is slidably keyed wit-h the shaft so that'when. it is in driving relation with -the lugs 22 of the other clutch member the shaft 38 is rotated to operate the ironer roll.

The clutch member 23 is normally urged into engagement with the clutch face 2| by means of a coil spring 46 having one end bearing against the bottom of a recess 41 of the collar 39 and its opposite end against the notched end of the clutch sleeve, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In order to move the clutch from engagement with the clutch face of the worm gear, the sleeve portion of the clutch 23 is provided with an annular groove 48 to receive the forked ends 49 of a clutch yoke 58. The clutch yoke 50 is pivotally mounted on a pin projecting inwardly from the wall of the clutch housing, as best shown in Fig. 6.

The clutch yoke includes an arm 52 extending over the periphery of the clutch collar to be engaged by a cam lug 53 that is formed as an integral part of the collar 39. The collar 39 is oscillated to bring the cam 53 into engagement with the arm 52 of the clutch yoke by means of a lever arm 54 having one end threaded in a socket 55 of the collar and its opposite end extending through an arcuate slot 56 in the clutch housing to mount a handle 51. It is obvious that when the actuating lever 54 is moved in a clockwise direction, Fig. 5, the cam 53 engages under the arm 52 to rock the clutch yoke and effect retractive engagement of the clutch member 23 against action of its spring 46.

Extending radially from the clutch housing in substantial alignment With theclutch collar, and formed as a part of the bracket, is a hollow arm 58 carrying a bearing boss 59 that projects laterally thereof in spaced parallel relation with the ironing roller, as best illustrated in Fig. 6. The bearing boss 59 preferably aligns with an upward cylindrical extension of the hollow arm 58 to accommodate a rock lever 68 later described.

Fixed Within an axial bore 6| of the boss 59 is one end of a sleeve `62, having its opposite end terminating substantially midway of the length of the ironing roll. Rotatably mounted 'within the sleeve 62 and having its ends supported in bushings 63, is a rock shaft 64 having its ends projecting fromthe ends of the sleeve to respectively mount the rocker arm 60 and an arm 65 carrying an ironing shoe 66, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. The armv65 is preferably clampingly engaged with the end of the rock shaft 64, as indicated at 61.

I'he shoe 66 conforms in curvature and length to that of the ironer roller 'and is heated by a suitable electric heating element (not shown), that is supplied with current from a cord 68 leading from one of the electrical supply connections (not shown) of the washer. The shoe is preferably pivoted on the arm 65 by means of a pin 69 extending therethrough and through spaced ears on the shoe. 'I'he shoe is thus mounted for rocking movement to and from pressing contact with the surface of the ironing roll, and I provide means for operably connecting vthe shoe with the clutch collar so that when the clutch is thrown into driving engagement with the worm gear the shoe is moved into pressing contact with the surface of the ironing roll and when the clutch is disengaged through actuation oi.' the operating lever the shoe is moved away from the ironing roll, as now to be described.

In the device illustrated the rocker arm 60 is flxed to the shaft 64 by means of a. pin 1| extending through a hub 12 thereof and through the shaft. 'I'he arm extends downwardly from the hub into the hollow portion of the bracket and has pivotal connection by means of a pin 13 with a head 14 carried on a threaded rod 15 extending in the direction of the clutch collar.

Also formed as a part of the head 14, and projecting in th-e opposite direction from the rod, is

a pin 16 forming a guide for retaining one end of a coil spring` 11 in seating engagement with the head while its opposite end is seated over a lug 18 projecting inwardly within the arm, as best shown in Fig. 4. The spring 16 has sufficient power to retain the shoe'in disengaging relation With the ironer roll, as shown in Fig. 4, but is adapted to yield against power of a preponderating spring, later described, to permit engagement of the shoe with the surface of the ironing roll.

The threaded portion of the shaft is loosely mounted within one end 0f a sleeve-like rod 19 that has a head 88 xed to its opposite end by a pin 8| extending therethrough and through a shank 82 of the head which is engaged within the sleeve. 'Ihe head 80 is pivotally eccentrically connected with the clutch collar by means of a pin 84, extending through an ear 83 on the collar, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Telescoped over the sleeve 19 is a coil spring 85 having one end seating against the ear 83 and its opposite end seating on jamb nuts 86 adjustably mounted on the threaded portion of the rod to adjust tension of the spring 85. It is thus obvious that when the lever arm is swung in an anticlockwise direction, Fig. 4, to move the cam lug from engagement with the clutch yoke, the ear 83 bears against the end `of the coil spring 85 to compress the spring against the jamb nuts 86, thereby moving the rod 16 against action of the spring 11 to rock the lever arm 12, and shaft 64, to effect swinging movement of the shoe into pressing Contact with the surface of the ironing roll.

The spring 85 thus allows yielding movement of the head to and from engagement with the ironing surface for accommodating clothes of varying thickness incidental to telescoping relation of the rod with the sleeve 19. When the lever 51 is released the spring 11 cooperates with the spring y85 to swing the actuating lever in a clockwise direction, lifting the shoe from pressing contact and causing the cam 53 to ride under the clutch yoke and effect disengagement of the clutch from driving connection4 with the Worm gear.

In order to mount the ironer attachment thus described so that it can be swung to and from the tub of the washing machine, the hollow ex- Yzu tension arm of the bracket carries spaced ears 88 engaging the arm 26, and through which a hinge pin 89 is extended, as shown in Fig. 2. In y order to retain the ironing attachment in xed relation with the gear housing, the clutch housing carries a suitable latch 9U that is pivotally mounted on an ear 8| projecting therefrom and which engages a lug 92 extending from the clutch housing, as best shown in Fig. 2.

In using the apparatus, and assuming that the ironer is plvoted to latched position with the gear housing, an article to be ironed is spread on the ironing roll 33 so that it lies flatly thereagainst with one edge in position to be engaged by the ironing shoe B6.

The handle 51 of the operating lever is swung downwardly to rock the clutch collar 39 so that the spring presses against the jamb nuts B6 to cause movement of the rod 15 and shifting of the rock shaft 64 to move the ironing shoe into pressing position against tension of the spring 11. Simultaneously the cam 53 moves out of contact with the arm 52 to release the clutch yoke 50 whereupon the spring 46 moves the clutch member I2 into engagement with the other clutch member 22 to cause rotation of the ironing roll. Movement of the roll feeds the article being ironed under the shoe. During this operation the rod 15 will reciprocate within its sleeve 19 to compensate for varying thickness of the article, the spring 85 responding to maintain the desired pressure on the shoe. After the article has passed under the shoe the handle 51 is released to allow the springs 11 and 85 to expand and raise the shoe from contact with the roll. This action of the springs rocks the clutch collar to carry its cam under the arm of the clutch yoke to effect shift of the clutch member away from its mate to stop operation of the roll. The springs 85 and 11 normally retain the parts in the latter described positions. After use of the ironer the latch may be released, whereupon the ironer is free to be swung on` its pivot arm 88 back against the tub.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a simple, inexpensive ironer construction that may be readily assembled in the factory with a minimum of machining operations. It is also obvious that the ironer is readily operated when in use by means of a single control.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Ironer shoe operating mechanism including, in combination with an ironing roll and clutch mechanism controlling operation of the ironing roll including a rockable throw member, an ironer shoe, a rock shaft mounting the shoe for movement toward and from the roll, a lever on the rock shaft, a two-piece pitman having one member thereof pivotally connected with said lever and its other member eccentrically mounted on said throw member and having yielding connection with the first member to compensate for variable movement of the ironer shoe relatively to the ironing roll, means for actuating the clutch throw member to shift the shoe in one direction, and resilient means acting directly on the lever ior returning the shoe.

2. Ironer shoe operating mechanism including, in combination with an ironing roll and clutch mechanism controlling operation of the ironing roll including a rockable throw member, an ironer shoe, a rock shaft mounting the shoe for movement toward and from the roll, a lever on the rock shaft, a pitman including telescoping members, one eccentrically mounted on said throw member and the other pivotally connected with said lever, an adjustable stop on one of the pitman members, a compression spring surrounding the pitmanand having one end engaging said stop and the opposite end engaging the other pitman member, and a spring acting directly on said lever and its connected pitman member to urge the shoe from the roll.

3. Ironer shoe operating mechanism including, in combination with an ironing roll and clutch mechanism controlling operation of the ironing roll including a rockable throw member, an ironer shoe, a rock shaft mounting the shoe for movement toward and from the roll, a lever on the rock shaft, a pitman including telescoping members pivotally connected respectively with the throw member and said lever, a stop member on one of the pitman members, a compression spring surrounding the pitman and having one end engaging said stop member and the opposite end engaging the other pitman member, means for actuating said throw member in one direction to set the clutch mechanism and yieldingly rock the shoe toward the roll and in the opposite direction to release the clutch mechanism and pitman, and resilient means for rocking the shoe away from the roll when the pitman is released.

4. Ironer shoe operating mechanism including, in combination with an ironing roll and clutch mechanism controlling operation of the ironing roll including a rockable throw member, an ironer shoe, a rock shaft mounting the shoe for movement toward and from the roll, a lever on the rock shaft, a pitman including a tubular member having a head eccentrically, pivotally mounted on said throw member and a rod telescoping with the tubular member and having a head pivotally connected with said lever, an adjustable stop on said rod, a spring surrounding the pitman and engaging the head on the tubular member and the stop on said rod to yieldingly rock the shoe toward the roll in response to movement of the throw member in one direction, a spring engaging the head on said rod to automatically return the shoe in response to movement of the throw member in the opposite direction, and means for actuating the throw member.

5. Ironer shoe operating mechanism including, in combination with an ironing roll and clutch mechanism controlling operation of the ironing roll including a rockable throw member, an ironer shoe, a rock shaft mounting the ironer shoe for movement toward and from the roll, a lever on the rock shaft, a two-piece pitman having one member pivotally connected with said lever and its other member eccentrically mounted on said throw member and having relative movement to the rst member, a spring yieldingly engaged with the respective members of the pitman to f yieldingly compensate for variable movement of the ironer shoe relatively to the ironing roll, means for actuating the clutch throw member to shift the ironing shoe in one direction, and resilient means acting directly on the lever for returning the shoe.

REUBEN J. McVEY. 

